This high school student from Costa Rica will spend New Year’s Eve 2025 in Marmande

See my news
Follow Le Républicain Lot-et-Garonne

Since the beginning of December 2024, Solenn Galerneau and her little family have volunteered to welcome, at their home, in Marmande in Lot-et-Garonne, a young foreign student as part of of a cultural exchange program led by the international association AFS Vivre Sans Frontière.

They thus welcomed young Mariaaged 16 and a half and who therefore arrived almost a month ago, from Costa Ricaa small country in Central America where temperatures never drop below 20 degrees Celsius. This shows that the acclimatization of the young Costa Rican on French soil took place with pain… and freshness.

A cultural shock between France and Costa Rica

“The cold is really, really hard,” she comments, in Spanish. A real shock for she is used to “celebrating the transition to the new year on the beach with the family. » But more than the winter temperatures, we also had to adapt to a new culture. “The first week was difficult because everything happened very quickly and I was still very tired from the jet lag. Afterwards, all the senses are on alert to try to understand what people say but now it’s much better. »

Registered in second year at the Val de Garonne high school, she also discovered a study environment totally different from what she knows in Costa Rica. “I get lost because the high school is much bigger than mine, which is in a rural area. » The organization itself also surprised her. “Here everything is very planned, it’s rigid and everyone is stressed whereas in Costa Rica, everything is more relaxed. ” There Pure Life (translate pure life) is moreover an expression that describes this state of mind in Costa Rican culture.

Despite everything, Maria was able to begin to discover all the charms of Franceto be commented on by the food, of course.

I love bread and raclette.

After seeing the Eiffel Tower upon her arrival in France, Maria also discovered some tourist assets of our country. “At the beginning of January, we will go to the Pyrenees where Maria will be able to see snow for the first time,” explains Solenn.

Families and teenagers can volunteer

But by the end of January 2025, Maria will have already returned to her country. She is in fact halfway through her stay and two months, it’s still very short to learn a language even when you are immersed in it every day. “The goal is not to speak to her in Spanish,” recalls Solenn who still exchanges a lot with her in the language of Cervantes.

It must be said that the mother knows what she is talking about because she herself benefited from the same program. “Twenty years ago, I went to Mexico,” she explains. Which allowed him to return almost bilingual to France.

I didn’t speak a word of Spanish and I loved this stay, despite the culture shock.

“Beyond learning the language, the exchange allows everyone to learn about the customs and culture of the other. For example, with us, meal time is an important and convivial time that we spend with family whereas with them, apart from the holidays, it is not systematic. »

An exchange which is also good for Solenn’s two children “who can share things with Maria, despite the language barrier. » And, good news, for families who might be interested, it is possible to apply as a volunteer host family for programs of up to one year. “The association covers the return flight, medical insurance and even education-related costs while the family covers expenses related to domestic life or outings. If Maria wants to go shopping, she has her own pocket money. »

The association also allows French high school students to be able to travel to 35 countries that are part of the program. “It allows you to learn to be a little more independent,” concludes Solenn. “Living abroad makes you more mature. I told Maria that she was incredibly lucky to be able to experience this at 16 and a half years old. » Without a doubt the kind of experience that leaves a lasting impression.

More information on afs.fr

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.